A novel binary pesticidal protein from Chryseobacterium arthrosphaerae controls western corn rootworm by a different mode of action to existing commercial pesticidal proteins.

The western corn rootworm (WCR) Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) remains one of the economically most important pests of maize (Zea mays) due to its adaptive capabilities to pest management options. This includes the ability to develop resistance to some of the commercial pesticidal proteins originating from different strains of Bacillus thuringiensis. Although urgently needed, the discovery of new, environmentally safe agents with new modes of action is a challenge. In this study we report the discovery of a new family of binary pesticidal proteins isolated from several Chryseobacterium species. These novel binary proteins, referred to as GDI0005A and GDI0006A, produced as recombinant proteins, prevent growth and increase mortality of WCR larvae, as does the bacteria. These effects were found both in susceptible and resistant WCR colonies to Cry3Bb1 and Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1 (reassigned Gpp34Ab1/Tpp35Ab1). This suggests GDI0005A and GDI0006A may not share the same binding sites as those commercially deployed proteins and thereby possess a new mode of action. This paves the way towards the development of novel biological or biotechnological management solutions urgently needed against rootworms.

Access to HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in Practice Settings: a Qualitative Study of Sexual and Gender Minority Adults' Perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations remain at disproportionate risk of HIV infection. Despite the effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in preventing HIV, PrEP uptake has been slow. OBJECTIVE: To identify barriers and facilitators of PrEP access by examining SGM patients' experiences with accessing health care systems and engaging with providers about PrEP in a variety of practice settings. DESIGN: Semi-structured, individual, qualitative interviews. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-seven sexual and gender minority adults residing in Oregon. APPROACH: Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. KEY RESULTS: We identified three main themes. Participants described the centrality of patient-provider relationships to positive experiences around PrEP, the necessity of personally advocating to access PrEP, and the experience of system-level barriers to PrEP access. Participants also made several suggestions to improve PrEP access including improving provider engagement with SGM patients, encouraging providers to initiate conversations about PrEP, and increasing awareness of medication financial support. CONCLUSIONS: In order to reduce HIV disparities, improving PrEP access will require additional efforts by providers and resources across health care settings to reduce barriers. Interventions to improve provider education about PrEP and provider communication skills for discussing sexual health are needed. Additionally, there should be system-level improvements to increase coordination between patients, providers, pharmacies, and payers to facilitate PrEP access and uptake.

Characterization of the ecological interactions of Roundup Ready 2 Yield® soybean, MON 89788, for use in ecological risk assessment.

As part of an ecological risk assessment, Roundup Ready 2 Yield® soybean (MON 89788) was compared to a conventional control soybean variety, A3244, for disease and arthropod damage, plant response to abiotic stress and cold, effects on succeeding plant growth (allelopathic effects), plant response to a bacterial symbiont, and effects on the ability of seed to survive and volunteer in a subsequent growing season. Statistically significant differences between MON 89788 and A3244 were considered in the context of the genetic variation known to occur in soybean and were assessed for their potential impact on plant pest (weed) potential and adverse environmental impact. The results of these studies revealed no effects of the genetic modification that would result in increased pest potential or adverse environmental impact of MON 89788 compared with A3244. This paper illustrates how such characterization studies conducted in a range of environments where the crop is grown are used in an ecological risk assessment of the genetically modified (GM) crop. Furthermore, risk assessors and decision makers use this information when deciding whether to approve a GM crop for cultivation in-or grain import into-their country.

Genetic variability of the european corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, suggests gene flow between populations in the Midwestern United States.

The European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is a widely distributed and serious economic pest to corn production in the U.S. Genetic variability of O. nubilalis was studied in 18 sub-populations in the upper Midwestern United States using amplified fragment length polymorphism. The relatively low GST values indicate that more variation exists within populations than between populations. High gene flow (Nm) values were indicated across the entire O. nubilalis population; the lowest degree of gene flow was in the northern samples (Nm = 1.96) and the highest degree of gene flow was in the southern samples (Nm = 2.77). The differences observed in the respective regions (north vs. south) may be explained by the voltinism patterns (univoltine vs. multivoltine, respectively) of O. nubilalis: southern multivoltine populations have opportunities for multiple matings for the duration of the year, further mix alleles. AMOVA results also indicated that most of the genetic variation was within sub-populations ( approximately 81% of total variation); less variation ( approximately 13%) was detected among populations within each of the three regions as designated for this study. However, the most striking and unexpected result was the low percentage of variation between all groups ( approximately 6%), further supporting implications of a high degree of gene flow. These results provide support for current requirements of refugia corn planting in Bt-corn management. These results also indicate that if resistance to Bt were to evolve in O. nubilalis, quick action would be necessary to deter the rapid spread of the gene for resistance.

Population variation of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, in the Western Hemisphere.

Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), the fall armyworm is the most economically important maize pest in the western hemisphere. This research focused on the genetic variability of the maize host strain because there is a lack of information in this area of S. frugiperda research. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was used to assess the genetic variability of S. frugiperda over a large geographic area. Twenty populations were collected from the maize, one population was collected from princess tree, one population was collected from lemon tree, and one population was collected from bermudagrass. The 23 populations were from Mexico, the continental United States, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Argentina. The objective of this research was to evaluate whether the majority of genetic variability was within populations or between populations. The AFLP results showed that the majority of the genetic variability is within populations and not between populations, indicating minor gene flow and suggesting that S. frugiperda in the Western Hemisphere are an interbreeding population.

Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) larval feeding behavior on transgenic maize (MON 863) and its isoline.

Diabrotica species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) larval behavior studies have posed a challenge to researchers because of the subterranean life cycle of this pest. To fully understand how the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, injures the maize, Zea mays L., root system, its behavior must be studied. For example, larvae that can detect an area of the root that has a lower amount of toxin, whether from an insecticide or a transgenic maize plant, have an increased chance of survival. This study assessed D. v. virgifera larval feeding behavior on rootworm-susceptible maize and maize containing a biotechnology-derived trait (MON 863) with resistance to D. v. virgifera first instar feeding. Maize plants were grown in a medium that allowed for direct observation and measurements during feeding of larval stadia. Neonates were placed on maize seedlings, and data were taken at 3, 6, 9, and 12 d postinfestation on resistant and susceptible maize. On rootworm-susceptible maize, neonate larvae aggregated at the root tips and began actively feeding, and then they moved to older root tissue. Conversely, some larvae that ingested Cry 3Bb1 from the resistant maize exhibited no movement. Other larvae on the resistant maize moved continuously, sampling root hairs or root tissue but not actively feeding. The continuously moving larvae had visibly empty guts, suggesting possible nonpreference for the resistant root. This study contributes to our understanding of D. v. virgifera larval behavior and provides insight into questions surrounding the potential evolution of behavioral and biochemical resistance to Cry3Bb1.

Re-emerging syphilis: a detrended correspondence analysis of the behaviour of HIV positive and negative gay men.

BACKGROUND: Recent syphilis outbreaks in the UK have raised serious concerns about the sexual health of the population. Moreover, syphilis appears more likely to facilitate HIV transmission than any other sexually transmitted infection (STI). METHODS: The sexual and other risk behaviour of a sample of HIV positive and negative gay men with and without syphilis was subjected to a detrended correspondence analysis (DCA). RESULTS: A DCA plot was used to illustrate similarity of individuals in terms of their behaviours, regardless of their infection status. The majority of those with syphilis (78%; 18/23) fell into a high-risk group with more partners, and use of anonymous sex venues and drugs during sex. However, 16% of uninfected controls (8/49) and 62% of HIV positive individuals without syphilis (8/13) also fell into this high-risk group. CONCLUSIONS: Using a statistical technique that is novel for this type of investigation, we demonstrate behavioural overlaps between syphilis-infected individuals in an ongoing UK outbreak and uninfected HIV positive and negative controls. Given the high-risk behaviour of a significant proportion of uninfected individuals, ongoing transmission of syphilis and HIV in this population seems likely.